Well heating device and method



Allg 16,`1 938` w. T. WELLS I WELL HEATING DVICE AND METHOD I Original Filed F'eb. 15, 1936 Wurf@ 7." W5@ :sv

Ressued Aug. 16, 1938 WELL HEATING DEVICE AND METHOD -Walter 'l'. Wells, Glendale, Calif., assigner, by mesne assignments, to Lane-Wells Company, Los Angeles, Calif., a corporation of Delaware Original No. 2,076,308, dated April 6, 1937, Serial No. 64,007, February 15, 1936.

All

plication for rcissueJune 18, 1938, Serial No., 214,587

material, preferably in the form of tubular sections 1 shaped at their ends to form -telescoping 14 Claims.

My invention relates to well heating devices and methods, and among the objects of my invention are:

First, to provide a well heating device which 5 utilizes thermitey as a heating medium.

Second, to provide a heating device of this character which is particularly adapted to melt parafn or other low melting solid accumulations in and around the perforations of a well liner or -within the casing above the liner, as well 'as generally heating and thereby decreasing the viscosity of the' well fluid.

Third, to provide a heating device adapted to be suspended from a cable so that it can be lowered and raised quickly.

Fourth, to prov'de a heating device which generates a substantial quantity of heat within a short time.

Fifth, to provide a heating device for wells which serves to preparea well for reproduction after idle periods.

Sixth, to provide a heating device which is selfcontained, etllcient in its operation, and both simple and economical of manufacture.

method of heating Wells.

`With the foregoing and other objects in view, 1 as may hereinafter appear, attention ls directed to the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is an elevational view of my well heating device shown suspended from a cable within a cased well bore. Y

Figure 2 is an enlarged fragmentary' sectional view of the heating device taken through 2-2 of Figure 1 showing the upper portion of the heating chamber and the means of connection with the cable head.

Figure 3 is a transverse sectional view through 3-3 of Figure' 2 looking downwardly on the relief valve deck.

Figure 4 is another transverse sectional view through 4-4 of Figure 2 loking upwardly at the valve deck.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary sectional vview through 5--5 of Figure 2 along the axis of one f the relief valves.

Figure 6 is a fragmentary, longitudinal, sectional view of the lower portion of the heating device taken through 6 6 of Figure 1. l

Figure 7 is a modified form of the heating device in which heat radiating ns are incorporated.

My well heating device comprises generally a heating chamber I adapted to receive thermite or analogous material, a connecting member 2, a cable head 3, and cable 4.

The heating chamber includes a llength of tubing forming a shell 5 which is internally threadedat its lower end to receive a plug i. The shell 5 is provided with a lining of refractory Seventh, to provide, on the whole, a novely portions 8.

The bottom lining section ts into a cup-shaped end member 9 also formed of ref ractory material.

dierent lengths and adding lining sections 1, a receptacle of any desired length is formed.

This rec eptacle is filled with thermite I or analogous material having a high exothermic reaction and generating a. minimum amount of gaseous pl' oducts. The lining 1 preferably exof the shell to provide free passage for any gases that may be generated or expanded by reason of the heat cr eated.

. The upper end of the shell 5 is internally threaded t the connecting member 2.

o receive the enlarged lower end of Said connecting member decreases in diameter above the shell forming a valve deck I3. The `valve deck is Drovided with passages I4 therethrough which receive valve seat members` I5 engaged Iby ball valves I6.

The ball valves seal against external pressure and are urged against their seats by springs I1.

The socket member ismade large enough to catch any drippings from the valves I6 to prevent thermite.

such moisture' from falling upon the The connecting member 2 is provided with a central bor e I8 therethrough which is constrlcted at its lower portion. The upper or larger portion of the bore I8 is internally threaded at its upper end to receive the lower end of the cable head 3 which is, in turn, secured to the cable 4. The cable 4 is a special type of wire rope having sucient strength to' support the well heater and provided with a central conductor core I9.

'Ihe conductor core extends to the lower end of lthe cable h ead where it is attached to a terminal By substituting shells 5 of 20 supported by an insulating disk 2|, as shown in Figure 2. The disk 2l is held in place by a threaded, hollow nipple 22 and the terminal projects therethrough;

The connecting member 2 likewise receives an insulating hollow nipple 24.

a yieldable disk 23 which is held in place by a The insulating disk 23 carries terminal member 25 engageable with the terminal 20 when the connecting member and cable head are screwed together.

A double lead conductor 26 is attached by one lead.to the terminal below the disk 23 and is grounded by its other rlead to the connecting member.

The conductor extends through the bore.' Il of the connecting member around' the socket member Il and into the lining 1. The

Y lower extremities of the conductor are connected to an ligniting cartridge 2l of any suitable design and are embedded in the thermite. Said cartridge may comprise a shell 28 of inammable insulating material containing the igniting mixture 29 commonly used for thermite, and having embedded therein a wire 30 adapted to be heated to incandescence when current is passed therethrough.

In order to minimize conduction of heat to the cablehead, the bore I8 of the connecting member may be packed with asbestos or other heat insulating material 3|.

Operation of my well heating device is as follows:

When electrical energy is supplied to the igniting cartridge, the thermite is ignited thereby and burns. 'I'he heat generated by the thermite is transferred to the surrounding well fluid, raising it to a temperature suflicient to melt parailn deposits along the sides of the casing, or the perforated liner through which the well iuid enters from the formation. The heating device is Vraised or lowered as the thermite burns to dis.,

tribute the heat where desired.

The purpose of the lining 1 is to prevent damage to the shell 5 but, particularly in the heaters course, the shell 5 is renewed each time.

Dissipation of heat from the heater may bef increased by providing heat radiating ns 32, as

shown in Figure 7. v v

The check valves serves to permit escape of any gases that may be generated.. and the socket member not only traps any water that may leak in, butalso serves to protect the lower endwof the connecting member 2 from the direct heat of the thermite. y

'I'hough I have shown and 'described a particular embodiment of my invention, I do not wish to be limited thereto, but desire to include in the scope of my invention the constructions, combinations, and arrangements embraced in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A well heating device comprising: a container; a non-explosive exothermic reacting substance therein; and means for igniting said substance.

2. In a well device: a non-explosive exothermic reacting substance adapted, when ignited. to produce a metal in the molten state; and means for igniting said substance while suspended within a well bore.

3. The combination with a weight supporting' and conducting cable: of a container suspended.

trically responsive igniting cartridge electrically connected with said cable and positioned within laid container.

5. A well heating device comprising: a container; a non-exp1osive exothermic reacting substance therein; means for igniting said substance;

and check valves incorporated in said chamberv for relieving excess pressure therein.

6. In a well heating device: a supporting and conducting cable; a container suspended therefrom; a quantity of non-explosive exothermic substance within said container and sealed thereby from the surrounding well iiuid; an electrically responsive igniting cartridge electrically connected with said cable and positioned within said container; and check valves incorporated in said chamber for relieving excess pressure therein.

'7. A well heating device comprising: a container; a non-explosive exothermic reacting substance therein; means for igniting said substance; and a lining of refractory material within said container.

8. In a well heating device: a supporting and conducting cable; a container suspended therefrom; a quantity of non-explosive exothermic substance within said container and sealed thererby from the'surrounding weil fluid; an electrically responsive igniting cartridge electrically connected with said cableand positioned withinv said container; and a lining of refractory material within said container. i

9. A well heating device comprising: a container; a non-explosive exothermic reacting subl stance therein; means for igniting said substance;

check valves incorporated in said chamber for relieving excess pressure therein; and trap means associated with said check valves for entrapping uids leaking therethrough.

10. In a well heating device: a supporting and conducting cable; a container suspended therefrom; a quantity of non-explosive exothermic substance within said container and sealed thereby from the surrounding well fluid; an electrically responsive igniting cartridge electrically connected with said cable and positioned within said container; check valves incorporated in said chamber for relieving excess pressure therein; and trap means associated with said check valves for entrapping iiuids leaking therethrough.

1l. A method of treating wells characterized by: `introducing a non-explosive exothermic substance opposite the region to be treated and then igniting said 'substance and collecting and retaining the residue for withdrawal.

12. A method of treating wells characterized by: introducing a quantity of thermite opposite the region to be treated; and then igniting the v13. A method of heating a well bore character'- ized by: introducing a quantity of exothermic material into a well bore; maintaining such material isolated from but heat-conductibly associated with the weil uids; igniting said material, causing it to undergo its exothermic reaction; then moving said material along the well bore as it undergoes its reaction.

14. A method of heating a well bore characterized by: introducing a quantity of Ythermite into Aa well bore while maintaining the same isolated froml but heat-conductibly associated with the well fluids; igniting the thermite; then moving the thermite along the well bore as it undergoes its reaction.

WALTER T. WELLS. 

